• Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's alleged madam, donated money to a charity for sex trafficking victims in 2008, according to tax documents reviewed by Business Insider.
• Maxwell is accused of helping organize a network of victims for convicted sex offender Epstein, who died in jail awaiting sex trafficking charges.
• Tax filings show that in 2008, Maxwell donated $350 to Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, a charity with a stated mission of ending commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of children and young women.
• Maxwell also made donations to a New York chapter of Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Hale House, which at the time was a famous New York City orphanage.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite accused of being Jeffrey Epstein's madam and setting up a network of victims and abusing them alongside the convicted sex offender, donated money in 2008 to a charity for sex trafficking victims, according to tax documents reviewed by Business Insider.

Tax filings show that Maxwell donated $350 to Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS), a charity created "to give the girls and young women of NYC who had been commercially sexually exploited a place for support and a place to create positive change in their lives," according to its website.

Maxwell made the donation through her private foundation, Max Foundation Tr.

The charity's stated mission is to end commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of children and young women. GEMS' website says it offers its members educational support, women's youth development, transitional and supportive housing, and court advocacy.

When reached by email, GEMS founder and CEO Rachel Lloyd told Business Insider they could not find a record of the donation, noting that it was for less than $500 and that they had changed donor databases since 2008.

"We would never knowingly accept monies from anyone who was working against [our] mission," Lloyd said. "We fully support all the victims who have been brave enough to come forward against Jeffrey Epstein and hope that they will still be able to find a measure of justice from those [who] perpetuated his crimes."

Tax filings show that Maxwell's other donations through her foundation include $275 in 2011 to the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, a chapter of Boys & Girls Clubs of America that provides after-school programs for under-resourced youth in New York City; and in 2007, $300 to Hale House, a New York charity that took in homeless infants and toddlers. In 2008, Hale House ended its residential program and became a daycare service known as the Mother Hale Learning Center. 

The tax filings also show that Maxwell donated $2,500 to the Clinton Library and Foundation in 2003, as well as at least $1,625 between 2003 and 2008 to the Wayuu Taya Foundation, a nonprofit focused on improving the lives of Latin American indigenous communities.

According to tax filings, between 2002 and 2018, Maxwell's foundation held an average of about $20,000 in total assets each year and appeared to be used to make a few small donations per year, possibly to purchase tickets to some of the fundraisers and charity galas at which she was often photographed.

The foundation's total recorded assets peaked in the tax year ending in June 2003 at $42,947, according to available tax filings. By 2018, that number had dwindled to $1,245.

After Epstein's death in a Manhattan jail on August 10, Maxwell could become the new focus of the sex trafficking and conspiracy case. The 57-year-old British socialite has been accused for years of being Epstein's top accomplice, allegedly recruiting victims and participating in their abuse.

Read more:What to know about British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's alleged madam

Maxwell's donation to the sex trafficking charity in 2008 came two-and-a-half months before Epstein pleaded guilty to two state charges in Florida: one count of solicitation of prostitution and one count of solicitation of prostitution with a minor under the age of 18. He served 13 months in a work-release program.

Maxwell's attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

SEE ALSO: What to know about British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's alleged madam

DON'T MISS: Ghislaine Maxwell abruptly torpedoed her oceanic non-profit in the wake of the scandal surrounding her associate Jeffrey Epstein

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NOW WATCH: How Area 51 became the center of alien conspiracy theories

• Business Insider spoke with marketing experts and found that coupons trick you into spending more money than you save. 
• When using a coupon, most people feel so excited that they buy too much, buy items they don't need, and spend over their budget. 
• Tricky marketing tactics like "BOGO" sales and "Act Fast" slogans all push consumers into buying more products. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Couponing has become an increasingly popular hobby in the US, as companies distributed 256.5 billion coupons in 2018.

While many think clipping coupons and chasing the biggest sale will save you a ton of money, there is growing evidence that the opposite is true. Business Insider spoke with several marketing experts and found that the coupon actually benefits the company more than it benefits the consumer. 

Here are some ways companies are tricking you into spending more money by offering coupons. 

Companies tap into the psychological excitement that you feel when using a coupon.

It's been proven that an item that costs $200 regularly is less appealing to a consumer than something that is $400 with a 50% discount because deals and sales excite people. 

"The thrill of using a coupon and getting a better deal than other consumers takes precedence and shoppers lose sight of the actual cost," Utpal Dholakia, a professor of marketing at Rice University, wrote in Psychology Today. "The result: Regular coupon users often spend more for an item than those who don't use coupons."

Coupons typically force people to buy items that they don't need.

Coupons are designed to lure customers into buying items that they don't need. In fact, 63% of people said they have bought an item that they don't need just because they had a coupon for it, according to Consumer Reports. 

To avoid falling victim to the scheme, Dholakia told Business Insider you should only use coupons for items you need. 

"If we are talking about groceries (where coupons are common), make a shopping list first, then try to find coupons for the items on the list," Dholakia said. "That way, you will only buy things you need and get a real deal instead of buying things you may not use."

Companies trick you into buying more than you actually need when using a coupon.

Brands tap into the "buy in bulk" ideology that couponers love. Consumers believe when you buy more than you need at the moment, it will pay off in the long run. But the truth is that you rarely break even. Most times, you end up with too much of one item and only use a fraction of it while the rest spoils. Bulk buying can even lead to hoarding-like tendencies, unhealthy eating habits, and ultimately, an empty wallet, according to Dholakia. 

"They spend more because they end up buying items they don't really need just because they are on sale, or buying more of an item because of how the promotion is structured," Dholakia told Business Insider. "This is quite common in grocery product categories but also occurs in other categories like fashion."

When a coupon has an expiration date, you often feel the need to act fast.

If there is a time crunch attached to a coupon or sale, consumers are more likely to buy a large quantity so that they don't have to pay full price in the future.

Keeon Yazdani, chief marketing officer of WE R CBD, said his company sends these types of coupons to its customer base regularly. 

"Below the coupon code, we always disclose the expiration date for the coupon code," Yazdani told Business Insider. "We use language like, 'Act fast! Supplies are limited! Time is running out!' We have found this builds a sense of urgency with our customers because they will want to stock up on our CBD products before they go back to the original price."

"BOGO," "50% off," and free shipping sales are specifically designed to make you spend more money.

Michael Anderson, a marketing specialist at GeoJango Maps, said his e-commerce company has implemented these types of sales because they encourage consumers to spend more. 

"The reason this works so well is that humans hate the pain of losing something more than they enjoy the satisfaction of gaining something," Anderson told Business Insider. "Due to this, customers often face post-purchase regret if they know that they could have received a deal on an item but didn't capitalize on it. This regret, or perception of regret, causes customers to stretch for deals even if it doesn't really benefit them."

Coupons are designed to make it easier to spend over your budget.

When using a coupon, it's easier to talk yourself into going over your budget because you convince yourself that you're saving money in the long run.

"Using coupons is only one way to go over budget. Many shoppers make impulsive purchases even without coupons which can throw them off track," Dholakia told Business Insider. "Bottom line: Use coupons with caution and careful thinking. That way, you'll end up saving money, shopping prudently, and consuming your purchases wisely."

• Read more:
• The 20 US cities where shoppers save the most money
• I tried 'couponing' for a week — here are 5 reasons why you should try it too
• The only right way to save money on groceries

• There are several steps you could take to unfreeze your iPad when it freezes or crashes.
• If you're running too many apps on your iPad, it may freeze. This doesn't mean your iPad is broken.
• Certain apps that have become corrupted might need to be deleted and reinstalled if they freeze or crash often. 
• Simply forcing an iPad to power down and then turning it back on is the most reliable way to unfreeze it, but this approach will also mean losing any progress you have made and haven't saved.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When it comes to computers and tablets, one way to deal with a frozen device is to put it down, walk away, and give it a few minutes to work. Like a watched pot that doesn't boil, a frozen iPad seems never to come back, but with a bit of time, it just might.

If the timeout isn't working and you have work to do right now, then it's time to get a bit more proactive in unfreezing that iPad. 

Here are various things you can try to fix a frozen iPad. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPad Pro (From $799.99 at Best Buy)

How to unfreeze an iPad

Give it some power

If your iPad won't turn on or has become unresponsive, chances are good that it's very low on battery (or fully drained). Connect it to a power source and leave it alone to charge for an hour.

Close apps to unfreeze an iPad

If you have too many apps running, your iPad could slow down or freeze. 

Close any apps you are not using by either double-clicking the home button or swiping up from the bottom of the screen, then swiping up on any app you are not using.

If that doesn't work, close all your apps and then try to resume your work.

And if you notice the iPad freezing whenever you use a particular app, consider uninstalling and then reinstalling the app, as it may have become corrupted.

Force-restart the frozen iPad

If your iPad is frozen and unresponsive, or too sluggish for use, try to force-restart it.

You can do this by holding down the home button and the power button at the same time on older iPads for more than ten seconds (or through a combination of buttons on an iPad with Face ID).

When you see the Apple logo, let go. The iPad will restart itself, and hopefully without you having lost your progress in any app.

Turn the iPad off

If the reboot does not work, you need to turn the iPad off fully and let it rest for a few moments (or charge it if needed). 

Hold the power button on top of an older iPad (or hold the the power button and one of the volume buttons on an iPad with Face ID) until the swipe to power off toggle appears, and swipe right to shut the iPad down. Now give it a break.

Reset the settings

Your frozen iPad may be dealing with software issues that can be assuaged with a reset, but know that you will lose some data in the process. Launch the Settings app and tap the General tab. Next, tap Reset.

On the next window, select "Reset All Settings."

If that doesn't seem to help, next try "Erase All Content and Settings," but know that this will erase everything on your iPad, resetting it to factory defaults. For more info on resetting and restoring your iPad, check out our article, "How to restore your iPad from a backup after resetting it."

And if none of these fixes work, the good folks at the Genius Bar at your nearest Apple store can diagnose the issue using hardware (and know how) not available to the rest of us.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to download files on an iPad, and where to find them once they've downloaded

• How to delete all of the emails on your iPad using a simple trick

• 'Why is my iPad so slow?': How to get your iPad running smoothly again

• How to sync your iPhone and iPad with your email, photos, text messages, and more

SEE ALSO: The best iPad cases you can buy

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NOW WATCH: The incredible story behind Slack, the app that's taken over offices everywhere

• No Fitbit devices are fully waterproof, but most are water-resistant to a certain extent.
• The Fitbit devices that are water-resistant include the Fitbit Ace 2, the Fitbit Versa, the Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Inspire, and Fitbit Ionic.
• Fitbit warranties rarely cover water damage, so understanding how much water your device can take is important.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

There are no truly waterproof Fitbit devices. Every Fitbit is water-resistant to an extent, but don't expect to go deep-sea diving with any of them.

Before we talk about how water-resistant Fitbits are, let's get on the same page with some of the technical jargon.

Most devices have what's called an IP (Ingress Protection) code, which tells you how waterproof something is. Anything rated IPX5 or IPX6 can be considered reliably water-resistant (sweat, rain, etc.), but is not safe for full immersion, for example. 

However, Fitbit is notable in that they haven't assigned official IP ratings to any of their devices. As such, it's hard to tell exactly how water-resistant any of their watches are.

One more note: we're talking about the Fitbit itself here, not about bands, which may be synthetic and impervious to water damage, or may be leather or metal and not at their best when wet.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Fitbit Ace 2 (From $69.95 at Best Buy)

Fitbit Versa (From $199.95 at Best Buy)

Fitbit Charge 3 (From $149.95 at Best Buy)

Fitbit Inspire (From $69.95 at Best Buy)

Fitbit Ionic (From $249.95 at Best Buy)

How water-resistant each Fitbit is

The Fitbit Ace 2, Fitbit Versa, Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Inspire, and Fitbit Ionic can be used at depths down to 50 meters. Just dry the thing off when you're out of the pool, lake, or ocean, as wetness can prevent it from properly checking your biometrics.

Older Fitbit models, such as any in the Alpha generation or earlier, are not singled out as water-resistant by Fitbit's support site, and likely can't handle submersion. 

Of the more current models, the Fitbit Ace is described as "shower-proof" but is not rated for submersion, so keep it out of the pool. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• This Fitbit model had the most accurate calories burned calculation, in a study that compared it to other similar devices

• How a Fitbit is able to accurately track your movement, and how to check your step count on it

• Here's how long it takes a Fitbit to charge, and how long its charge should last

• How to tell if your Apple Watch is waterproof or water-resistant, and to what extent

SEE ALSO: The best Fitbits you can buy

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NOW WATCH: How Area 51 became the center of alien conspiracy theories

• Conor McGregor has said David Beckham was a big inspiration behind the launch of his fashion label August McGregor.
• The Irishman launched the collection in 2018, with the first drop selling out in less than 24 hours, according to The Mac Life.
• "David Beckham was a pioneer. He paved the way for that kind of style." McGregor told GQ.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Conor McGregor says David Beckham is his style icon. 

The former UFC champion released his debut style line, August McGregor, in 2018 in partnership with custom clothier David August.

The collection, which includes sportswear, limited edition t-shirts, and McGregor's signature style suits, flew off shelves when it launched last year, selling out in less than 24 hours, according to The Mac Life.

August McGregor released it's most recent assemblage earlier this month, and after the drop, McGregor told GQ that the former Manchester United and England midfielder Beckham was an huge inspiration behind his own venture into the world of fashion. 

"For me, the OG [original gangster] of fashion and male style is David Beckham," the Dublin-born fighter said in GQ. "David Beckham was a pioneer. He paved the way for that kind of style.

"We have to go to David for inspiration, who I'd look up to style-wise, back in the day."

McGregor also revealed that Beckham sent him clothes after the two exchanged words. "I actually talked to David. He sent me some clothes. They're in my office right now as we speak."

Read more:What whiskey 'unicorn' Conor McGregor is actually like, according to his Proper No. Twelve business partner

This isn't the first time McGregor has spoken of his admiration for the Inter Miami FC owner.

In 2017, the Irishman told Entertainment.ie's Mike Sheridan: "David Beckham is an OG. An OG of the whole picture from a fashion standpoint that I've capitalized on and from a sporting standpoint — his was football, mine's fighting.

"I have much respect for him and the empire he has built."

McGregor also revealed the pair traded messages, with Beckham reportedly keen to make a move into the world of combat sports.

He said: "He was at the Ultimate Fighting Championship performance institute where I prepared for the Floyd fight [and] put up a post and tagged me in it.

"We were talking about it and he said, 'It makes me want to get into fighting.' I was like, 'Say no more David … we can make that happen, you know we can make that happen if you want!'"

McGregor announced his retirement from MMA in March 2019, however has been touted for a return by UFC boss Dana White. 

SEE ALSO: A 26-year-old South African cagefighter knocked his opponent out with a masterful front kick, then celebrated by pretending to shoot him in the face

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Swayze Valentine is the only female treating fighters' cuts and bruises inside the UFC octagon

• A high-quality smart light switch should be easy for even a novice to install, have an auto shut-off function, and feature an intuitive app that helps you automate your home.
• The ecobee Switch+ Smart Light Switch (currently $79.99 on Best Buy) turns off my kitchen lights a minute after someone leaves the room and has Alexa so I can voice-operate the connected devices around my house and set timers while cooking.
• Though it's more expensive than most other smart light switches (currently $79.99 on Best Buy), the Switch+ is backed by the user-friendly ecobee app and comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Ever since Hanna-Barbera gave us The Jetsons in the early '60s, we've had an idea of what the perfect automated home of the future could be like. Thanks to the many smart home devices on the market, home automation has never been more attainable. But I don't think even Hanna-Barbera could've imagined that we'd be able to talk to light switches to access a virtually limitless database of information and controls.

Yet, this is exactly what the ecobee Switch+ can do.

It's a smart light switch made by ecobee, a Canadian home automation company founded in 2007. The company is best known for its smart thermostats found in residences and businesses alike. Since my ancient home's wiring isn't compatible with its smart thermostat, I decided to test out the ecobee Switch+ Smart Light Switch with Alexa built in (currently $79.99 on Best Buy) instead and see how it holds up.

Read more: The best smart outlets you can buy

Specs

The Switch+ works with any lights that are controlled by a single switch and have a neutral (usually white) wire. To check compatibility, turn off power to your current switch at the breaker, remove the wall plate, and check for a neutral wire before buying the Switch+.

The smart light switch works with Alexa-enabled devices (since it has the system already built in), Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and IFTTT, as well as a mobile app for iOS and Android. The light switch can be used for interior and exterior lights, and the app has separate settings and features for each set.

The Switch+ has several buttons that control Alexa (putting it on Do Not Disturb mode, turning it off, and more) as well as indicator lights that let you know Alexa is responding. There's also a speaker, occupancy sensor, old-fashioned on/off button for the light, and an optional night light at the base that makes finding the Switch+ easy at night.

In terms of set-up tools, the Switch+ comes with a wall plate, four wire nuts, and two mounting screws.

Set-up process

I had the smart light switch for a few weeks before I got around to installing it. I kept procrastinating because ecobee advertises that installation only takes 45 minutes, so I assumed that with my novice skills, I could expect an hour and a half of struggling. It didn't help that the installation guide is covered with scary warnings about electrocution hazards. But, in the end, my apprehensions were unfounded. The whole process took me 30 minutes and I felt like a capable handyman afterward.

For installation, you need both Phillips and flathead screwdrivers. Pliers aren't necessary, but I found they helped for straightening out the wires. But before you do anything, you must, must turn off the breaker that supplies power to the light switch you're replacing. For this reason, you might want to install the Switch+ during the day when you have natural light to help you see or have a good flashlight (and holder) or buddy nearby.

Next, you remove the old switch and identify the wires you'll be using. You then connect the wires to the Switch+ using the included wire nuts. Then, you fit the wire nuts into the wall, mount the Switch+, turn the power back on, and test it out.

There's no need to memorize the above steps, I'm just trying to be helpful here. Thankfully, Ecobee provides incredibly easy-to-follow steps and videos to guide you through the process. There's even a lesson on how to work with wire nuts, which I needed. Overall, the process was painless.

Read more: The best smart light bulbs you can buy

What makes the smart light switch stand out

At first, I had a long list of negative adjectives in my head to describe the Switch+ —  ridiculous, extravagant, bougie, and so on. Why would I need a light that's connected to Alexa? It just seemed like another smart gadget that my five-year-old would be able to use to drive me nuts. But over time, I learned to use the light switch to my advantage.

My favorite use of the Switch+'s Alexa capability was cooking. When following recipes or making several dishes at once, it's helpful to have a timer. Previously, I would set an alarm on my phone, but that requires the use of my busy hands. But with the Switch+ nearby, I was able to set the timer without skipping a beat.

The ultimate dad move is walking around and turning off lights to shave pennies off the electric bill — which I am not ashamed to admit doing. But now I don't have to because I can set the light to turn off when no one is in the room. Through the app, you can choose to have the light turn off automatically one to 60 minutes after someone leaves the room. If I had a nickel every time it worked like a charm...

The Switch+ uses built-in motion detection sensor to turn the light on when someone enters the room. You can choose to have the light turn on whenever motion is detected; with daylight detection, it will only turn on when there isn't natural light so the lights don't come on at 3 p.m. when someone gets home. I chose to only have the light on when the room was dark.

I also like that the app offers a vacation mode. With this feature, you enter the dates and times you'll be on vacation, and the app makes it so each of your connected ecobee products gives the appearance that someone is home while you're away. For example, when vacation mode is engaged, my kitchen light turns on and off randomly to make it look like I'm there.

Read more: This $80 light strip adds accent lighting wherever you need it — here's how I use it around my home

Cons to consider

The "Smart On" function worked well, but I wish I could adjust the level of sensitivity to ambient daylight. There were times when it was overcast outside and I wasn't getting as much light as I wanted. Overall though, I'd prefer that the switch err on the side of not turning on because I kind of like the environment and would rather not overuse resources.

If you're buying the Switch+ for its bumping speaker, you'll be disappointed. The sound quality is not impressive, which is to be expected from such a small speaker. However, it does get up to 90 decibels from a foot away. I found the speaker to be good for alarms and information, but not music.

The bottom line

Overall, the Switch+ is a fun addition to my household. My favorite part is not having to worry about turning the kitchen light off. And I've slowly found ways to use Alexa to my advantage, like setting timers and telling my robotic vacuum to get to work. I'd recommend the ecobee smart light switch to anyone interested in integrating smart lighting into their overall Jetsons-like arrangement.

Pros: Eco-friendly because it can turn off lights, works with Alexa and other popular smart home systems, vacation mode makes potential intruders think someone is home, smart capabilities adjust the amount of light depending on weather, easy to install

Cons: Expensive for the category, non-adjustable sensor sensitivity, speaker isn't ideal for music

Buy the ecobee Switch+ Smart Light Switch on Amazon for $48.29 (currently only available from third party sellers)

Buy the ecobee Switch+ Smart Light Switch at Best Buy for $79.99

Buy the ecobee Switch+ Smart Light Switch at Target for $79

Join the conversation about this story »

• The wealth gap between generations in the US has nearly doubled in the past 20 years, according to a MagnifyMoney study.
• The study found that millennials have seen a small decrease in net worth when compared to the same-aged cohort 20 years ago.
• Baby boomers, meanwhile, have seen a significant increase in their net worth, when compared to the same-aged cohort 20 years ago. 
• Millennials are facing an affordability crisis, in which the Great Recession, expensive housing market, and staggering student-loan debt have put them financially behind.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Look no further than the widening generational wealth gap to see just how financially behind millennials are.

The average American millennial household today (ages 20 to 35 in 2016) has an average net worth of $100,800, while the average American baby boomer household today (ages 52 to 70 in 2016) has a net worth of $1.2 million, reported Mallika Mitra for CNBC, citing a MagnifyMoney analysis of Federal Reserve data on household assets and liabilities (all values are adjusted for inflation). That means that baby boomer households in 2016 had twelve times the net worth of millennial households.

A gap in wealth between these age groups makes sense because baby boomers have had more time than millennials to accumulate wealth — but comparing that wealth gap to those of previous generations shines a new light on the findings.

In 1998, the average household aged 20 to 35 had a net worth of $103,400, while households aged 52 to 70 had a net worth of $747,600, MagnifyMoney found — roughly seven times more than the younger households.

That means the wealth gap between older households and younger households has nearly doubled in the past 20 years, climbing from seven to twelve times the net worth. 

In that time frame, the average net worth for households ages 20 to 35 has declined by $2,600, while households ages 52 to 70 have seen a $452,400 increase in net worth.

Read more: Millennials have been called the 'brokest' and the 'richest' generation, and experts say both of those are true

The Great American Affordability Crisis is to blame 

As a refresher, net worth is one's entire personal assets minus all their liabilities. MagnifyMoney's analysis reveals that millennials have more liabilities — debt — than any other age group studied.

Much of that debt takes shape in student loans, thanks to college tuition that has more than doubled since the 1980s— the national student-loan debt total is more than $1.5 trillion, and the average student-loan debt per graduating student in 2018 who took out loans is $29,800.

According to a report earlier this year by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, 81% of early-adult households ages 18 to 34 carry a collective debt of $2 trillion, including student-loan debt and credit card debt.

Meanwhile, as Mitra reported, rising housing costs also play a role. First-time homebuyers todaywill pay 39% more than first-time homebuyers did nearly 40 years ago, according to Student Loan Hero. That means millennials are less likely to buy a home, making houses an asset more boomers than millennials have.

There's also the aftermath of the Great Recession, which created a financial domino effect for millennials that put them on a slow path to wealth accumulation. It hit millennials born in the 1980s especially hard: Their wealth levels are 34% below where they would most likely have been if the financial crisis hadn't occurred, according to a report by the St. Louis Fed.

The recession also made millennials wary about investing, Mandi Woodruff, executive editor at MagnifyMoney told Mitra.

Ultimately, the generational wealth gap increase is an effect of The Great American Affordability Crisis, in which rising living costs, increasing student-loan debt, and the ongoing fallout of the recession are creating serious financial struggles for millennials.

SEE ALSO: The Great Recession split the millennial generation down the middle, creating 2 groups with very different financial habits

DON'T MISS: 2019 is the final class of millennial college graduates. Next stop: The Great American Affordability Crisis.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos is worth over $160 billion — here's how the world's richest man makes and spends his money

• You can make a YouTube banner in a few quick steps to give your channel some personalized flair.
• Banner images offer another place to give potential subscribers an idea of what your YouTube channel is about, and lead them to your other social media channels.
• When you have art that's made to the site's banner specifications, the process of uploading your image is simple.
• Here's what you need to know to make and upload a YouTube banner to your channel.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A YouTube banner is the section at the top of your channel's homepage, above your username and subscriber count. While it will appear blank by default, you can upload images there to personalize your account.

These banners will appear much smaller on mobile than on desktop, but the company recommends uploading 2560 x 1440 px images, to accommodate those large differences in display size.

To get your image to that size, you can either crop it through a program that comes with your computer, or upload it to a site like Canva that has templates specifically geared for various social media sites (this is especially useful if you want to use the same photo across several platforms).

And when it comes to designing a YouTube banner, there's nothing stopping you from using a simple photo. But by creating something more customized, you can help people who aren't already subscribers figure out what you're about, get a feel for your channel's vibe, and let them know about your other social media channels or products.

Here's how to make a YouTube banner for your channel.

How to make a YouTube banner

Before getting started, it's important to note that you can only upload a YouTube banner on a desktop computer.

1. Go to youtube.com and sign in to your account, if necessary.

2. Click your account icon in the top-right corner of the screen.

3. Select "Your Channel" from the drop-down menu.

4. Click "Customize Channel" at the top of the screen.

5. If you don't have any current channel art, click "Add Channel Art" near the top of the screen; otherwise, hover over the current banner and click "Edit" followed by "Edit Channel Art."

6. Upload your image.

7. If necessary, select "Adjust the Crop."

8. Click "Select."

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to delete your own YouTube videos on a computer or mobile device

• How to upload a video to YouTube and customize its settings on desktop and mobile

• How to create your own YouTube channel for personal use, or a Brand Account for business

• How to temporarily hide or permanently delete your YouTube account, and erase any trace of yourself from the site

SEE ALSO: The best laptops you can buy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos is worth over $160 billion — here's how the world's richest man makes and spends his money

• Slow cookers are available in a large variety of sizes and price points, so you have a lot of choices, depending on your needs.
• For an average-sized family looking for a bargain, we like the 6-Quart Programmable Cook-and-Carry Crock-Pot. It works great, it's easy to operate, and it has a surprisingly low price point.

Lots of people like comfort foods, especially during the winter months — even if those comfort foods don't always help out their waistlines. Unfortunately, most comfort foods can be time-consuming to cook and prepare, which means a lot of hassle for someone who spends eight-plus hours at a job. It's tough to feel comforted when you're spending several hours cooking after several hours working.

So you end up ordering a pizza, picking it up on the way home from the office, and eating your comfort food out of the box, which is not ideal.

If you'd prefer your comfort foods to be homemade, a slow cooker is the answer for a busy household. This kitchen appliance allows you to combine the ingredients in the morning before work, set the cooking time and temperature, and return home hours later to a great-tasting, fully-completed meal. Now, that's ideal.

A slow cooker is a simple appliance. Although some models have a series of advanced features, the basic operation of a slow cooker involves setting a cooking temperature and cooking time and then leaving it alone for several hours. 

Slow cookers are available in many different sizes, with the capacity measured in quarts. You can pick models with capacities ranging from 1 to 10 quarts, although sizes of 4 to 6 quarts are the most common capacities. 

Most slow cookers allow you to cook at low, medium, or high-temperature settings. A lot of slow cookers will automatically switch to the warm setting after the cooking time has expired so your food doesn't overcook and disintegrate. Some advanced slow cookers will allow you to set an exact cooking temperature and start-time, while others offer multiple cooking features and double as pressure cookers. 

Here are the best slow cookers you can buy:

• Best slow cooker overall: Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Cook-and-Carry
• Best high-end slow cooker: All-Clad 4-Quart Slow Cooker with Ceramic Insert
• Best programmable slow cooker: Breville 6-Quart Fast Slow Pro
• Best mini slow cooker: Proctor Silex 1.5-Quart Slow Cooker

Updated on 08/14/2019 by Les Shu: Updated prices, links, and formatting.

SEE ALSO: The best Crock-Pots you can buy

The best slow cooker overall

The 6-Quart Programmable Cook-and-Carry Crock-Pot is big enough for a crowd with a lockable lid for easy transport and it has programmable cooking times.

Sometimes, a product is so synonymous with a product category is that its brand name becomes a preferred term used in everyday language. For example, in everyday language, an adhesive bandage becomes a Band-Aid, a facial tissue becomes a Kleenex, and a closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam product becomes Styrofoam. (That last one makes some sense, as "closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam" is a mouthful.)

And when it comes to slow cookers, a lot of people use the brand name Crock-Pot to describe all models of slow cookers. It's understandable, as Crock-Pot slow cookers were first on the market and have dominated for a long time. The company continues to offer excellent quality slow cookers, including the Crock-Pot Programmable Cook-and-Carry 

It solves one slow cooker concern: What do you do if you'll be gone for ten hours, but the meal you're preparing only needs to cook for eight? No need to worry if you have this convenient slow cooker. Just set the timer for your desired cooking time before you head out. 

You can set cooking times from 30 minutes to 20 hours and leave your worries behind. The Crock-Pot will cook your dinner to perfection, and then automatically switch itself over to the "Warm" setting once the time is up.

With a 6-quart capacity, this is the perfect Crock-Pot for larger families. You can fit a six-pound roast inside, several pieces of meat along with vegetables, or go ahead and roast a whole chicken in it — you'll still have room for carrots and potatoes.

The Wirecutter likes this Crock-Pot, praising its long timer, modern appearance, handles, and locking lid. That locking lid with its sealing gasket is another fine feature of this Crock-Pot — no more spills when traveling with the cooker to a picnic, potluck, or tailgate party.

Amazon customers are pleased with this slow cooker as well. It has more than 5,000 reviews and an average of 4.2 stars. Buyers like the large capacity, the programmable timer, and the sleek appearance. Several owners complained that the Crock-Pot seemed to run too hot on the "Low" setting, however. Note that both the "Low" and "High" settings of a Crock-Pot reach the same maximum temperature of roughly 210 degrees. It just takes longer to reach the maximum temperature on low.

The locking lid is a hit. One Amazon shopper wrote, "The slow cooker tipped over once in the car while full of sloppy joe meat, and to my surprise when I arrived at my destination, not a drop of the sloppy joe meat (or sauce) leaked out." — Michelle Ullman and Kyle Schurman

Pros: Locking lid with gasket, programmable timer, large capacity, stainless steel finish, and modern appearance

Cons: Might cook too hot on low setting

The best high-end slow cooker

The 4-Quart All-Clad Slow Cooker with Ceramic Insert looks beautiful on your countertop and cooks everything to perfection without making you do anything.

The 4-Quart All-Clad Slow Cooker with Ceramic Insert is the perfect size for cooking meals for a small family or a full chunk of pork butt for pulled pork. All-Clad is famous for its beautiful high-end stainless steel appliances and cooking utensils, and this slow cooker lives up to the brand's reputation.

Not only does it look gorgeous on any countertop, it also works extremely well. The slow cooker is very easy to operate with just a few buttons and no complicated settings. It has a 26-hour programmable timer and warm, low, and high temperature settings so your food is cooked to perfection.

The removable black ceramic insert and glass lid are easy to hand wash or pop right in the dishwasher. The lid's handle is made from silicone, so it never gets hot to the touch. You can leave this slow cooker cooking all day without fear of burning the house down and come back to a delicious meal.

I use this slow cooker regularly to make beans, stews, and pulled pork for the meat-eaters in my life. I toss the ingredients in, set the temperature, and let it do it's thing while I'm at work or out on the weekends. It makes meals super easy to prepare with minimal effort.

Buyer reviews are largely positive, though some do complain about the ceramic insert breaking after admitted rough handling. If you treat it the way you treat other ceramics like coffee mugs and plates, it won't break — just be careful with it and don't smash it against anything.

All-Clad guarantees the slow cooker for two years, so contact the company if you run into problems. — Malarie Gokey

Pros: Gorgeous, 4-quarts is a good size, decent price, ceramic insert is sturdy, easy to use

Cons: Pricier than some slow cookers

The best high-end slow cooker

It has a really high price, but The Fast Slow Pro 6-Quart from Breville successfully slow cooks and pressure-cooks food in one easy-to-use appliance.

The Fast Slow Pro 6-Quart slow cooker from Breville carries a high price compared to other slow cookers, which means it won't work for some people. But it justifies its big price tag by giving you a multitude of features so you can cook big meals however you want.

The Breville cooker works as both a pressure cooker and a traditional slow cooker, so yu can make just about anything with it. One positive comment users have regards versatility because the Fast Slow Pro can perform the work of multiple appliances, saving storage space in the kitchen cabinet.

The Fast Slow Pro attempts to make slow cooking easy with eight different pre-set programmable cooking modes. There's also a custom time and temperature setting that you can use for your favorite family recipe. Using the various settings is easy because of the large and clear LCD screen on the side of the unit.

As for downsides, Wired found the Breville unit far too complex for what most people will want in a slow cooker, especially considering they'll pay five to 10 times more for The Fast Slow Pro than they will for other slow cookers.

Pros: Offers strong pressure cooker and slow cooker functions, eight different slow cooker pre-set modes, excellent build quality, six quarts of capacity works well for many people, large LCD screen is easy to read

Cons: Extremely high price versus other slow cookers, may be too complex for some people

The best mini slow cooker

If you need a slow cooker that's better suited for preparing meals for one or two people, you'll love the size of the Proctor Silex 1.5-Quart Slow Cooker.

Slow cookers often seem like they're all about cooking big meals for a busy family. But slow cookers don't all discriminate against people who are cooking for one or two. The Proctor Silex 1.5-Quart Slow Cooker is a mini slow cooker that's great for cooking small meals for one or two people.

It's a very simple slow cooker with three temperature settings that you'll control with a knob. The Proctor Silex cooker is also a smaller appliance, so if you don't have much space in your kitchen, it's a good option. As one Amazon buyer pointed out, this cooker is also perfect for use in an RV or on a large boat, where you have limited storage space.

Review Labs said this small slow cooker is a perfect option for cooking appetizers, dips, sauces, or snacks for a party, and it's small enough so you can carry it with you to a friend's house. The rubber seal on the lid and the latch strap also help to prevent spills, which is a great feature for a portable unit.

However, a few Amazon reviewers said the Proctor Silex 1.5-Quart slow cooker doesn't cook as evenly as some larger slow cookers.

Pros: Small slow cooker is perfect for cooking appetizers for a party, small unit works great in kitchens where storage space is limited, has padded lid and latch strap for transportation, nice size for meals for one or two people

Cons: Will be too small for some families, doesn't always cook food evenly

Safety considerations for slow cookers

Some people are understandably nervous about using a slow cooker, as this appliance is designed to run while no one is home. Others may have a sentimental attachment to the slow cooker grandma used, and now that they've inherited the appliance, they want to continue cooking with it.

Before using any slow cooker, though, you need to read through this list of safety measures from NBC News and Compare Slow Cookers.

• Clean the base: Keep the portion of the slow cooker with the heating element clean. If a previous recipe has spilled onto the heating element, you need to wipe this old food and clean it to keep it from burning when cooking the next meal.
• Electrical cord: Inspect the slow cooker's power cord carefully. Make sure it hasn't been melted or frayed. Old slow cookers may have a fabric insulation around the electrical cord, which is no longer considered safe.
• Overcooking: Even on the high setting, slow cookers only reach temperatures of about 250 degrees, so you don't really have the same concerns about overcooking and burning the food as you might when leaving food unattended in an oven, where temperatures of 350 degrees to 450 degrees are more common.
• Test the temperature: An older slow cooker may no longer be able to reach a high enough temperature to safely cook raw foods. Test it by filling the slow cooker with room temperature water at least two-thirds of the way. "Cook" the water on the low setting for eight hours and then use a thermometer to ensure the water has reached at least a 185-degree temperature.

Happy cooking!

Check out our guides to the best Crock-Pots, Instant Pots, and pressure cookers

The best Crock-Pots you can buy

Busy cooks have been turning out delicious, easy, convenient meals in their Crock-Pots since the early 1970s. We researched the dozens of available Crock-Pot slow cookers on today's market to find the best ones you can buy.

Here are the best Crock-Pots you can buy:

• Best overall: Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Cook-and-Carry
• Best small cooker: 3-Quart Round Manual Crock-Pot
• Best for entertaining: Crock-Pot Hook Up Connectable Entertaining System
• Best for casseroles: 3.5-Quart Casserole Crock-Pot
• Best for lunch: Crock-Pot Lunch Crock

The best instant pots and electric pressure cookers

Electric pressure cookers are so versatile, they can make all kinds of meals and even replace several different appliances.

We poured over thousands of reviews and ratings from both experts and users, as well as tested several brands, to determine which instant pots do what they say they can do, provide consistent performance over extended use, and offer great value for your money. 

Here are the best pressure cookers and Instant Pots you can buy:

• Best multicooker overall: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Multi-Use Pressure Cooker
• Best advanced multicooker: Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 Multi-Use Pressure Cooker
• Best combination multicooker: Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer
• Best premium multicooker: Breville Fast Slow Pro

• Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in an apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail on Saturday, August 10 as he awaited trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors.
• The former money manager had many famous connections.
• Epstein, who ran a business out of the US Virgin Islands, was known for jet-setting with the likes of former President Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew (the third child of the UK's Queen Elizabeth).
• Some of Epstein's former friends include L Brands CEO Les Wexner and President Bill Clinton. Both have said they cut ties with the disgraced financier years ago.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Jeffrey Epstein, 66, died by apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail on Saturday, August 10, as he awaited trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors.

The former hedge-fund manager and registered sex offender may have kept his client list under wraps, but he often bragged of his elite social circle that included presidents and Hollywood stars.

"I invest in people — be it politics or science," Epstein was known to say, according to New York Magazine. "It's what I do."

Read more:How Jeffrey Epstein, the mysterious hedge-fund manager arrested on sex-trafficking charges, made his fortune

Epstein had been in police custody since July 6; he was arrested shortly after exiting his private jet in New Jersey. He pleaded not guilty on July 8 and was being held without bail in New York City. On July 25, Epstein was placed on suicide watch after a reported suicide attempt that led to his hospitalization.

In 2007, Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of solicitation of prostitution and procurement of minors for prostitution in Florida.

Here is what we know about the famous people who crossed paths with Epstein.

SEE ALSO: The life of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who rubbed elbows with Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Kevin Spacey

DON'T MISS: Barney's just declared bankruptcy. Meet the company's billionaire chairman, who was once considered one of Wall Street's most promising investors and owns at least 3 homes across the US.

President Donald Trump once considered Epstein a friend.

The future president claimed in 2002 that he had a long friendship with Epstein. "I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy," Trump said, according to New York Magazine. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life."

According to Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, Trump now believes the crimes Epstein was charged with are "completely unconscionable and obviously criminal." She also labeled them "disgusting," according to a report from the Associated Press.

"The president told me this morning he hasn't talked to Epstein, he doesn't think he's talked to him or seen him in 10 or 15 years," Conway added.

Read more: Everything we know about Trump's connection to financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was charged with sex trafficking

Former President Bill Clinton traveled with Epstein in 2002 and 2003.

A statement released in July by Clinton spokesperson Angel Ureña said the former president traveled to Europe, Asia, and twice to Africa on Epstein's private jet. Clinton's staff and Secret Service agents also went on these trips, which were to further the work of the Clinton Foundation, according to the statement.

At the time, Clinton told New York Magazine through a spokesperson that Epstein was a "both a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist with a keen sense of global markets and an in-depth knowledge of twenty-first-century science."

Ureña also said that Clinton and Epstein haven't spoken in "well over a decade" and that Clinton "knows nothing about the terrible crimes" Epstein was charged with.

Read more: Bill Clinton said he 'knows nothing' about charges against Jeffrey Epstein

Actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Chris Tucker also took trips with Epstein.

Epstein, Clinton, Spacey, and Tucker spent a week in 2002 touring AIDS project sites in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, and Mozambique for the Clinton Foundation, according to a New York Magazine report.

Spacey has also been charged with sexual assault, although the case may be dismissed, according to The New York Times.

Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is Epstein's ex-girlfriend — and alleged madam.

Maxwell, 57, is a British socialite and the daughter of media tycoon Robert Maxwell.

She started dating Epstein shortly after moving to New York in 1991, Business Insider previously reported. After they broke up, court documents allege that Maxwell started recruiting underage girls for him to have sex with.

Read more: What to know about British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's alleged madam

Prince Andrew and Epstein were close friends, the Guardian reported in 2015.

Maxwell introduced Epstein and the Duke of York in the 1990s, the Guardian reported, and the two became close friends.

The Duke is the son of the UK's Queen Elizabeth. He has also been criticized for frequently taking flights on the taxpayer's dime while serving as the country's special representative for international trade. This earned him the nickname "Airmiles Andy," according to the Washington Post.

Court documents reviewed by the Guardian allege that Epstein instructed Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a 15-year-old employee at Trump's Mar-a-Largo resort, to have sex with Prince Andrew on three separate occasions.

Buckingham Palace said in 2015 that the allegations against Prince Andrew were "false and without any foundation," according to the Guardian.

Read more:New charges against Jeffrey Epstein highlight his reported past ties to the British royal family

According to a July 22 article from NY Magazine's Intelligencer, a number of royals and royal connections were among Epstein's contacts. That includes Prince Andrew's then-wife, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York; and Charles Althorp, Princess Diana's brother. According to Intelligencer, all three were named in Epstein's black book; Ferguson and Prince Andrew were also named in his private jet log.

L Brands CEO Les Wexner is Epstein's only confirmed client.

Epstein became a trusted confidant of Wexner's while Epstein managed the CEO's fortune, according to Vanity Fair. Wexner has a net worth of $6.7 billion, Bloomberg reported. The magazine reported that Wexner allowed Epstein to take an active role in L Brands, which owns Bath & Body Works, Express, and Victoria's Secret.

In 1989, Wexner used a trust to buy an Upper East Side townhouse that is believed to be the largest private residence in Manhattan for $13.2 million, Vanity Fair reported. Epstein moved in after Wexner and his wife, Abigail Koppel, moved to Ohio in 1996. Wexner's trust transferred ownership of the house to Epstein in 2011 for $0, Bloomberg reported.

Wexner later fired Epstein as his money manager. "Mr. Wexner severed ties with Mr. Epstein more than a decade ago," an L Brands spokesperson told Forbes.

Read more: How Victoria's Secret head Les Wexner went from small-town Ohio shopkeeper to facing scrutiny for his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

Former Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta worked with Epstein's legal team to arrange a plea deal after Epstein was charged with solicitation of prostitution and procurement of minors for prostitution in Florida in 2007.

An investigation by the Miami Herald revealed that Acosta, then a US attorney, had enough evidence against Epstein to request a life sentence. Instead, he reportedly met with one of Epstein's lawyers, who happened to be a former colleague of Acosta's.

In the resulting plea deal, Epstein served 13 months in a private wing of a county prison, which he was allowed to leave six days a week to work in his office.

Business Insider previously reported that Acosta said he was "pleased that NY prosecutors are moving forward with a case based on new evidence," on Twitter.

Acosta resigned on July 12.

Read more: Stunning new report details Trump's labor secretary's role in plea deal for billionaire sex abuser

Film publicist Peggy Siegal planned a star-studded dinner party for Epstein and Prince Andrew at Epstein's New York mansion in 2010.

Siegal, known for hosting events to promote films including "The Big Short," "Argo," and "The Revenant" to Oscar voters, invited Epstein to screenings after he was released from prison in 2010, according to The New York Times.

"I was a kind of plugged-in girl around town who knew a lot of people," Siegal told The New York Times. "And I think that's what he wanted from me, a kind of social goings-on about New York."

Siegal also planned a dinner party for Epstein and Prince Andrew at his Upper East Side home. The event was attended by Katie Couric, George Stephanopoulos, and Chelsea Handler. "The invitation was positioned as, 'Do you want to have dinner with Prince Andrew?'" Ms. Siegal said. Many of the guests didn't know who the host was or about his criminal history, The New York Times reported.

A spokesperson for Siegal told Business Insider that Siegal's relationship with Epstein was social, not professional. Siegal told The New York Times that she ended her relationship with Epstein at the height of the #MeToo era in 2017.

Read more: Meet Peggy Siegal, the NYC publicist who got Jeffrey Epstein into A-list events and has been called the 'best way' to make sure your movie wins an Oscar

Epstein also told the Times that he spoke often with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Epstein also said that MBS had visited Epstein's Manhattan mansion many times and had a framed photo of the crown prince hanging on the wall, according to New York Times reporter James B. Stewart.

Representatives of MBS did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

According to the New York Times, Epstein claimed to have advised Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

In an interview published in the New York Times on August 12, Epstein claimed that Elon Musk had sought him out to help manage the trouble he had gotten into with the SEC a year earlier, in August of 2018.

Epstein told reporter James B. Stewart that he had promised to keep his work for Tesla private because of his prior conviction. Epstein also warned that both Musk and Tesla would deny their connection to Epstein if it ever became public, the Times reported.

Read more: Elon Musk was photographed next to Jeffrey Epstein's alleged madam Ghislaine Maxwell at an Oscars after-party in 2014

Musk has confirmed crossing paths with Epstein at least once, Business Insider previously reported. Musk, Epstein, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg were all guests at a dinner hosted by LinkedIn CEO Reid Hoffman sometime after he was released from jail in 2008.

In a statement to Business Insider, a spokesperson for Musk denied Epstein's claims of having served as an adviser to the CEO

• You can block YouTube channels to prevent certain users from interacting with your channel using either your computer or a mobile device. 
• When you block a channel on YouTube, it won't prevent that account from being able to view your public videos, but it will prevent them from being able to comment on your videos through that account.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The internet is great — until it isn't. And sometimes the free exchange needs to be dialed back a bit, especially when it comes to that one troll who won't seem to leave you alone.

On YouTube, the best way to handle this situation is blocking the offending user because it prevents them from being able to comment on your content. 

While there isn't a way to keep them from viewing your content altogether, assuming your video is public, it does at least prevent further trolling from that account.

Here's how to block someone else's YouTube channel on your computer or mobile device. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

Google Pixel 3 (From $ at Best Buy)

How to block YouTube channels on a computer

This will only take a minute if you already know the username of the person you want to block.

1. Go to youtube.com, login if necessary, and search for the account you want to block.

2. Click on their account and toggle over to "About" in the toolbar beneath their channel art, also known as a banner (which lives at the top of their channel's page).

3. Click the flag on the right side of the page and select "Block user."

4. Choose "Submit."

How to block YouTube channels on a mobile device

Blocking users on YouTube is relatively the same on mobile as it is on desktop:

1. Open the YouTube app on your iPhone or Android and sign into your account, if necessary.

2. Tap the search icon at the top of the screen and input the name of the user you want to block.

3. When you see their account pop up, tap it to view their main account page.

4. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen and select "Block user."

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to delete your own YouTube videos on a computer or mobile device

• How to block or unblock someone on Twitter on a computer or mobile device

• 'Who blocked me on Instagram?': How to figure out if you've been blocked, and by whom

• How to temporarily hide or permanently delete your YouTube account, and erase any trace of yourself from the site

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone accessories from cases to lightning cables

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Making meaningful small talk on a first date can get tricky and awkward. 
• Relationship experts told Business Insider their favorite questions to ask on a first date. 
• Many of them stressed that to have the conversation flow organically, you should be present in the moment by asking good follow-up questions.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Making small talk can be awkward — especially on a first date.

Simply asking "So, what do you do?" isn't going to lead to the meaningful conversations you want to have on a first date to ensure there'll be another one.

Read more:13 simple ways to get better at small talk

To help break the ice with a stranger on a first date, Business Insider asked seven relationship experts from across the country to reveal their favorite questions to ask on a first date. 

While many of them had a few pre-determined questions at hand, they said the most important thing to keep in mind is just to be a good listener, and to be yourself. 

"Meaningful small talk is virtually anything that helps you connect with the other person in a genuine way," Shira Teichman, a dating coach and cofounder of the dating app Forj, told Business Insider. "Ask what feels natural in the moment, without calculating what you think you're supposed to say."

For those who need a little extra guidance, here are the best questions to ask on a first date, according to relationship experts:

SEE ALSO: 13 simple ways to get better at small talk

What do you think of the restaurant/bar/etc. we're at?

"Be present in the moment," says Claudia Duran, a relationship expert based in Miami, Florida. To get the conversation rolling, she recommends sharing your experience of the date as soon as it starts by asking about the vibe of the restaurant or bar. If you both notice something odd — like another couple on a date that doesn't seem to be going well — go ahead and bring that up to establish a shared experience.

"[Being] present for the moment and present to sharing them together opens up the dialogue organically," Duran adds.

If you met on a dating app, ask about what led you to accept their profile.

Right off the bat, you want to establish a common connection with your date, says Andrea Syrtash, dating expert and co-author of "It's Okay to Sleep With Him on the First Date: And Every Rule of Dating Debunked." Finding something you can both relate to will naturally lead itself into a good conversation.

While making plans with someone you met online can be awkward right off the gate, bringing up something you saw helps to minimize that discomfort. 

"At the end of the day, why are you attracted to someone on an app? Because you're swiping and you're like, 'Hey, I liked the way he looks,'" New York City-based relationship expert Rori Sassoon told Business Insider. "You know nothing about that person."

What are your hobbies?

Marla Mattenson, founder and CEO of Mattenson Coaching & Consulting, told Business Insider she always recommends you ask your first date, "What are you kind of obsessed with these days?"

While asking about where someone works might lead to dead-end conversations, inquiring about a person's hobbies or interests outside of their office gives you a better sense of their values, Sassoon said Business Insider.

"I think that you get to learn a lot about a person when you understand what their passions and their hobbies are," she added. "It's a light question, not too heavy."

Do you drink?

A first date is also a good time to get to know the other person's lifestyle choices — especially ones that could cause problems down the road, Duran says.

If one person is vegan, for instance, and the other loves steak, that might be a deal breaker for one party. The same is true for alcohol. If you're a recovering alcoholic, for instance, you may not want to spend too much time with a big party-goer. "Those kinds of things should be open," she said. "That's who we are."

While Duran stresses you should keep an open mind when getting to know someone, if you know a certain lifestyle would not match yours, go ahead and ask right away. 

What would be the one value you would say is really important for you to live by?

"The best questions to ask on a first date are those that gauge your basic level of compatibility with your date, dig out shared values, help both have clarity on what the other person is looking for, and build a decent level of intimacy," Sami Wunder, a certified relationship coach, told Business Insider in an email. 

While basic questions about someone's personal life can build intimacy and help figure out whether you two are compatible, understanding shared values might take some direct questioning.

Ask good follow-up questions.

Teichman recommends you don't go in with a set of prepared questions, as you don't want to come across as too calculated. She added that many of her clients complain about wanting to skip the "small talk" and instead have meaningful conversations on first dates. While she understands that first-date conversations can be awkward, she said asking good follow-up questions forces you to be attentive to what the other person is saying.

"It's not really about choosing the right subject matter," Teichman told Business Insider. "It's about the effort you make to bring your whole self on the date."

Where did you grow up?

While intimate questions about family and past relationships can be too invasive for a first date, asking light questions about where they grew up can lead to more meaningful conversations. "It sounds a little boring, but all these leading questions are simply for a response that you can then build from," said New York City-based relationship expert and love coach Susan Winter.

Plus, getting a better sense of their relationship with their friends and family can clue you into how this person would be in a relationship, Sassoon said. 

"When you know that a person has friendships that lasted many years, they are in a healthy state to have sustainable relationships," she added. 

• There are currently hundreds of "bed-in-a-box" companies competing for market share, and it seems like new companies are popping up every day.
• Snuggle-Pedic is best known for their incredibly comfortable shredded memory foam pillows, but they recently entered the online mattress space with a dual layer memory foam mattress.
• I especially liked that the mattress was easy to set up, there was virtually no initial odor, and the memory foam breathed well.
• Though the Snuggle-Pedic Mattress is relatively expensive for memory foam (currently $999.99 for a queen on Amazon), you can try it risk-free for four months and its backed by a 20-year warranty.

Would you commit to sleeping with someone every night for the next 20 years after just talking to them for 10 minutes? Probably not. Yet, this is essentially what you are asked to do at a mattress store. A high-pressure salesperson tries to get you to commit to a long-lasting product after lying on it for 5 to 10 minutes. The bed-in-a-box industry seeks to put an end to this practice with its risk-free trial periods.

Anyone can try the Snuggle-Pedic Mattress risk-free for four months. If you decide you don't like the mattress, Snuggle-Pedic will arrange to have a charity pick it up, and they'll refund your money. I was already a fan of the Snuggle-Pedic body pillow when they asked me if I'd like to try their mattress for free. Here's my experience with it.

My first experiences with the Snuggle-Pedic Mattress

The Snuggle-Pedic Mattress came in a box about the size of a mini fridge. I liked that the company included a letter opener to make it easy to remove the plastic wrap without fear of accidentally cutting the mattress. In under 10 minutes, I had the plastic removed, and the bed was expanding to its full 10-inch-thick size.  

Though I didn't have any trouble, others might have a difficult time handling the 70 pounds of bed. Unfortunately, Snuggle-Pedic doesn't have an answer for that yet. They don't offer "white glove" delivery or setup.

I've unboxed more than my fair share of memory foam products, and they almost always have an odor that dissipates after a few days. The Snuggle-Pedic mattress had no odor. I asked Jennie Katz, a representative for Snuggle-Pedic, what their trick was, and she told me that they don't do anything special to lessen the smell. Instead, "they] use a very high-quality foam that uses a process that is far cleaner than the foam used by competitors."

Katz also recommended that I set up the bed on a firm, level surface, such as a platform, box spring, or other similar foundation. We used a cheap Zinus frame, which fit the bill, but I would recommend spending a few more bucks on something that will keep the mattress in place.

Read more: The best sheets you can buy for your bed

How the Snuggle-Pedic Mattress performed

I mainly sleep on my stomach, but I've been known to venture to my sides. With the Snuggle-Pedic Mattress, side and back sleeping were much more comfortable than stomach sleeping. I felt like I was sinking a little too much on my stomach.

The mattress has a medium firmness, which is the most common in the industry. However, Snuggle-Pedic offers a special customization process that vice president of product development Dr. Rick Swartzburg, D.C. describes this way:

We make a modular cover that allows a change to the layering of the mattress that cannot only make it firmer or softer in general but can target whether you need a firmer or softer surface, core, or perhaps even just a change in the buoyancy/springiness of the mattress.  A change in the buoyancy can be exceptionally important because some customers are happy with the feel from the get-go, but may not want as much contouring effect. In the case of a mattress modification, we would exchange a new layer by sending them directly to the customer, so they do not have to send their large mattress into us.  Of course, in both cases, they still have 120-nights to test products and can still return them even after any modifications are made.

This process is a bit of a hassle up front, but considering the mattress is designed to last for 20 years, it's important to get the feel just right.

With most beds, I sleep hot and wake up covered in sweat. This is particularly true with memory foam beds, which tend to trap heat. But, heat was not an issue with the Snuggle-Pedic Mattress. It features a patented "Airflow Transfer System" that consists of a series of ventilation holes and open side channels to allow for maximum air circulation. It clearly worked well at keeping me cool.

Despite weighing 70 pounds, the bed was easy to move around, which is important if you move your bed often or if you just want to stick to rotating your mattress every six months.

Some concerns about the mattress

I was most disappointed by the poor edge support of the mattress. Snuggle-Pedic designed the edges to have some give because they've found customers don't like hard edges. Also, beds made of memory foam generally have less edge support. This should not be a concern unless you prefer a firmer mattress or are obese. If you do try the mattress and find that you need more edge support, you can contact Snuggle-Pedic for a free reinforced edge upgrade.

Initially, the mattress failed my motion transfer test. I dropped a 20-pound weight from 4 feet above the bed to see if it would knock over a can of soda sitting 1 foot away from the contact point. The can fell over each time. Upon hearing about the failed motion transfer test, Snuggle-Pedic contacted me and suggested I try the test with the mattress on the floor — and not on the cheap Zinus frame. So, I took their advice, and the Snuggle-Pedic mattress passed the motion transfer test. The moral of the story is to make sure you have a stiff, structurally-supportive foundation to minimize motion transfer.

There aren't any showrooms where you can walk in and try out the Snuggle-Pedic Mattress before you buy it. For old-fashioned shoppers, this would be nice to have available. Fortunately, the company offers a nice, long risk-free trial instead.

The bottom line

Overall, I would strongly recommend the Snuggle-Pedic Mattress to side or back sleepers who don't share a bed with others. Though you can potentially update the edge support to keep you snugly in bed, the motion transfer could wake light sleepers. On the plus side, the bed sleeps cool and provides the just-right firmness to support you on your side or back. And, though a queen will run you $1,00, Snuggle-Pedic backs their products with a 20-year warranty so you can count on your mattress lasting you for decades.

Buy the Snuggle-Pedic Mattress on Amazon, $650 (twin) to $1,200 (king/California king)

Updated on 03/03/2019: Updated information about the mattress' edge support and motion transfer.

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• Blue World Voyages plans to debut its first cruise ship in 2021.
• Designed for fitness enthusiasts, the ship will have a wide range of health and wellness amenities, like a gym, spin and yoga studios, and a spa.
• The ship will offer guest suites and residences that cost up to $3.1 million.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A new cruise line is offering cruise-lovers the opportunity to live on its first ship for up to $3.1 million.

Blue World Voyages plans to debut the ship, whose name has not been disclosed, in 2021. Designed for fitness enthusiasts, the ship will have a wide range of health and wellness amenities, like a gym, spin and yoga studios, and a spa.

Here's what the ship will look like.

SEE ALSO: 6 tiny details pilots notice when they fly as passengers that you probably miss

Blue World Voyages describes the ship as a "wellness community on water."

The ship will have 40 residences available for purchase.

One-room residences will cost around $2.2 million, while two-room residences will cost around $3.1 million.

There will also be guest suites.

The ship will be able to house a total of 525 passengers.

The ship will have two floors dedicated to sports and wellness.

One floor will have a spa that will include a solarium and a therapy tub.

The ship will also have a golf simulator and a putting green.

Owners will be able to take yoga and spin classes.

When the ship is docked, passengers will be able to use a structure that creates a pool in the ocean.

The ship will make fitness-based excursions.

They'll include cycling in Spain, surfing in Portugal, horseback riding in France, and Tai Chi lessons in the Netherlands.

Blue World Voyages plans to eventually operate three ships.

The cruise line's first ship will debut in 2021.

• Have you worked on a cruise ship? Do you have a story to share? Email this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com.

• Read more:
• A Carnival cruise ship with brown shower water and bagels covered in flies just got a terrible sanitation score
• Cruise-ship workers say they have so much sex that it's comparable to college
• The 10 large cruise ships with the nicest cabins
• The 10 best large cruise ships for people who love food

• The British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is said to have been in the inner circle of the financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison on Saturday awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy.
• Maxwell is alleged to have acted as Epstein's madam; she's accused of recruiting victims and abusing them alongside the convicted sex offender.
• Maxwell, 57, the daughter of the media mogul Robert Maxwell, moved to New York City from England in 1991, reportedly living off a $100,000-a-year trust fund.
• Maxwell integrated herself into the city's high society, attending parties, charity galas, and other events with celebrities, presidents, CEOs, and other members of the city's wealthy and powerful elite.
• For seven years she ran an ocean-conservation nonprofit, which abruptly shut down in July.
• Until 2016, Maxwell lived in a 7,000-square-foot Manhattan townhouse with links to Epstein. It was sold in 2016 for $15 million.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has become one of the most prominent and mysterious figures linked to the financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died by apparent suicide in prison on Saturday while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy.

Maxwell is alleged to have acted as Epstein's madam, recruiting and abusing underage victims alongside the convicted sex offender. Maxwell has denied these allegations.

Maxwell's legal team is out of the country and unavailable for comment, according to the law office. The firm did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Born in France, Maxwell is the daughter of Robert Maxwell, the British media mogul who mysteriously drowned after falling or jumping from his yacht near the Canary Islands in 1991.

Here's what we know about how Maxwell's finances.

SEE ALSO: The famous connections of Jeffrey Epstein, the elite wealth manager who died in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges

DON'T MISS: The life of Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender and well-connected financier who died in jail awaiting sex trafficking charges

The British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has become one of the most prominent and mysterious figures linked to the financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died by apparent suicide in a Manhattan prison on Saturday.

Maxwell is alleged to have acted as Epstein's madam, recruiting and abusing underage victims alongside the convicted sex offender. Maxwell has denied any wrongdoing.

Born in France, Maxwell is the daughter of the British media mogul Robert Maxwell.

Robert Maxwell was a member of Parliament from 1966 to 1970 and the owner of the British tabloid the Daily Mirror.

In March 1991, months before his death, he bought the New York Daily News.

In England, Maxwell was an Oxford-educated socialite.

Maxwell attended one of England's top private boarding schools and later graduated from Oxford University. She went on to found a social club for women in London.

In 1991, Robert Maxwell died while cruising on his yacht, called the Lady Ghislaine after his daughter.

His body was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean after he disappeared from his private yacht. According to The Guardian, it was ruled that he died from a heart attack combined with accidental drowning, but his daughter reportedly believed her father was murdered.

After his death, his yacht was sold to an American buyer and is now known as Lady Mona K. The 190-foot-yacht sleeps up to 12 guests in six cabins.

Maxwell moved to the US in 1991, reportedly living off a $100,000-a-year trust fund set up by her father.

Her father's business was more than $4 billion in debt following his death, so Maxwell didn't move to the US as a lavishly wealthy heiress.

The British socialite, about 30 years old at the time, quickly became a staple of the city's high society, rubbing shoulders with celebrities, presidents, CEOs, and other members of the city's wealthy and powerful elite.

According to a 2000 article by the New York Post, she started out in New York working in real estate and living off about $100,000 a year from a trust fund set up by her father.

Soon after she moved to New York, Maxwell reportedly began a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

According to the Post, Maxwell started dating Epstein around 1992.

Maxwell is said to have introduced Epstein to many of her high-flying friends.

Maxwell reportedly socialized with high-profile people including John F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, and the Clinton family.

Maxwell introduced Epstein to Bill and Hillary Clinton, whom she knew through their daughter, Chelsea, according to Politico. Maxwell was a guest at Chelsea Clinton's wedding in July 2010.

According to Politico, Maxwell grew close with Chelsea Clinton after her father left office.

"Ghislaine was the contact between Epstein and Clinton," a person familiar with the relationship told Politico in July. "She ended up being close to the family because she and Chelsea ended up becoming close."

When reached for comment by Business Insider, Bari Lurie, Clinton's chief of staff, said Clinton and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky, were not aware of the allegations against Maxwell until 2015.

"Chelsea and Marc were friendly with her because of her relationship with a dear friend of theirs," Lurie said. "When that relationship ended, Chelsea and Marc's friendship with her ended as well."

A person close to Clinton told Business Insider that she and her husband knew Maxwell through a close family friend, Ted Waitt, and that Clinton and Maxwell were never "close."

Maxwell was at Clinton's wedding only because she was Waitt's girlfriend at the time, the person said.

Waitt cofounded the personal-computing company Gateway in 1985 and is now chairman of the Waitt Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the oceans.

Maxwell's social life wasn't confined to New York City.

She attended events like a dinner in Miami Beach, Florida, hosted by the New York real-estate tycoon Aby Rosen, where guests included the fashion designer Calvin Klein.

Maxwell is accused of approaching and recruiting girls to visit Epstein in his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.

Until 2016, Maxwell lived in a $5 million New York townhouse bought by a company with the same address as Epstein's business office.

Tax records reviewed by Business Insider show that the Manhattan townhouse was purchased for $4.95 million in October 2000 by an anonymous corporation with the same address as Epstein's finance office on Madison Avenue.

The seller was Lynn Forester.

Business Insider was unable to confirm that the seller of the home is the same Lynn Forester who has been linked to Epstein. Lynn Forester de Rothschild, the chair of the E. L. Rothschild family investment office and the wife of the British billionaire financier Sir Evelyn Robert Adrian de Rothschild, was one of the names on Epstein's private-jet log. In October 2000, she was not yet married to de Rothschild.

Forester sold the mansion for about $8.5 million less than its assessed market value, which was more than $13.4 million. Forester bought the home in 1997 for $4.475 million, according to tax documents.

The 7,000-square-foot home on Manhattan's Upper East Side has 12 rooms, eight fireplaces, and an elevator.

Lynn Forester de Rothschild did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The townhouse Maxwell lived in is about six blocks from Epstein's former home on 71st Street.

The home was sold in the spring of 2016 for $15 million.

For seven years Maxwell operated an ocean-conservation nonprofit organization, which was abruptly shut down in July.

Maxwell founded the TerraMar Project in 2012 to promote conservancy of the world's oceans.

Days after Epstein was arrested on charges of sex trafficking, the organization's website was shut down and now includes only a statement announcing its closure: "The TerraMar Project is sad to announce that it will cease all operations. The web site will be closed ... TerraMar wants to thank all its supporters, partners and fellow ocean lovers."

Business Insider's Áine Cain reviewed the nonprofit's tax documents and found that it was a relatively small enterprise. No employee was ever paid more than $100,000, and most of its funds went into website development, office expenses, travel, phone and utilities fees, merchant fees, contractor fees, professional fundraising services, and insurance policies.

Maxwell reported working 60-hour weeks and pouring thousands into the organization, but by 2017 TerraMar was $550,546 in the hole in terms of revenue.

INSIDER's Ellen Cranley recently reported that investigators were looking into the nonprofit for possible connections to Epstein.

Tax documents reviewed by Business Insider show that Epstein donated $57,000 to the organization in the tax year ending in January 2013.

Through a private foundation, Maxwell has donated to various charitable organizations — including a charity for victims of sex trafficking.

According to tax filings published by ProPublica and reviewed by Business Insider, Maxwell is the trustee of a philanthropic organization called Max Foundation Tr.

Tax filings show that in 2008, Maxwell's foundation donated $350 to Girls Educational & Mentoring Services, a charity whose stated mission is to end the commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of children and young women.

When reached by email, Rachel Lloyd, GEMS's founder and CEO, told Business Insider they could not find a record of the donation, noting that it was for less than $500 and that they had changed donor databases since 2008.

"We would never knowingly accept monies from anyone who was working against [our] mission," Lloyd said. "We fully support all the victims who have been brave enough to come forward against Jeffrey Epstein and hope that they will still be able to find a measure of justice from those [who] perpetuated his crimes."

Maxwell's other donations through her foundation include $275 in 2011 to the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, a chapter of Boys & Girls Clubs of America that provides after-school programs for under-resourced youth in New York City.

In 2007, she donated $300 to Hale House, a New York charity that took in homeless infants and toddlers. In 2008, Hale House ended its residential program and became a daycare service known as the Mother Hale Learning Center.

The tax filings also show that Maxwell donated $2,500 to the Clinton Library and Foundation in 2003, as well as at least $1,625 from 2003 to 2008 to the Wayuu Taya Foundation, a nonprofit focused on improving the lives of Latin American indigenous communities.

According to the tax filings, from 2002 to 2018, Maxwell's foundation held an average of about $20,000 in total assets each year and appeared to be used to make a few small donations per year, possibly to purchase tickets to some of the fundraisers and charity galas at which she was often photographed.

The foundation's total recorded assets peaked in the tax year ending in June 2003 at $42,947, according to available tax filings. By 2018, that number had dwindled to $1,245.

Maxwell's whereabouts are unknown, and authorities have had trouble locating her, The Washington Post reported.

The Post reported on August 11 that Maxwell was believed to be living abroad and that authorities had not been able to locate her.

A Daily Mail report from August 14 said Maxwell had been living in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, with the tech CEO Scott Borgerson.

However, when contacted by Business Insider, Borgerson denied that Maxwell was staying at his house. He said that he had been out of the country traveling for work for the past week and that the house had been empty.

Maxwell's legal team did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment on her location.

• There are wedding registry gifts, and then there are useful wedding registry gifts — the ones that do more than take up space in your home. 
• Eight couples told us about the home and kitchen products actually worth adding to your own wedding registry.
• These practical gifts come from high-quality brands like Le Creuset and Simplehuman and are designed for a lifetime of day-to-day use.  

On your long list of things to do before your wedding, starting a registry is probably somewhere near the top. After you and your partner have decided which registry is best for your needs comes the fun (or more accurately, the stressful) part: deciding what products to add to it. 

With an entire world of options at arm's reach, it's tempting to add anything that even vaguely strikes your interest. After all, you're not the one who has to buy it.

According to a 2017 study conducted by The Knot, the average wedding registry contained 125 items. But before you get overeager and add every Amazon gift idea you can, consider which products you'll actually use in your day-to-day life and which ones will just clutter your home and cause you more stress. 

We asked married couples to tell us what products on their wedding registry proved to be the most useful. Below, you'll find the eight home and kitchen standouts you should add to your own registry.

An efficient countertop appliance

Philips Starfish Technology Airfryer, $113.96, available at Amazon

This air fryer has completely replaced the need for an oven or a microwave and it does everything an oven does in a third of the time. I roast a lot of vegetables in the air fryer and I also cook frozen items in here, too, and they come out crispy and perfect. It requires no cooking skill either. You can just throw the vegetables in and turn on the air fryer. —Cathy Dinsmoor, software engineer  

A must-have coffee maker for coffee lovers

Berghoff Studio Espresso/Coffee Maker, $99.99, available at Amazon and Zola

Our most-used item from our Zola wedding registry (we got married three years ago) is by far our stovetop coffeemaker. We went with a $100 Berghoff Studio Espresso coffee maker (the biggest size) and have since used it almost every day for three years.

It's expensive enough that I would have balked at buying it for myself, but we both love coffee so much and it's proven to be the most-used item we received as a wedding present. It's high quality, easy to use, and makes two cups of perfectly strong coffee within minutes. —Kim Renfro, entertainment correspondent

A Le Creuset Dutch oven

Le Creuset 4.5-Quart Round Dutch Oven, $320, available at Le Creuset, Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Sur La Table

This was one of those items that I didn't originally have on my registry but my aunt kept pestering me about adding. Well, she was right. This is by far the best piece of cookware I received. It cooks meat and chicken to perfection and is large enough to make portions for eight to 10 people without needing to make a second batch of whatever dish I'd like to serve.

My husband did not understand why we needed such an expensive pot but once I told him it was the "Ferrari of cookware" and made brisket in it, he was sold on it, too. —Rachel Furst, associate product manager 

Luxurious dip bowls

Michael Aram Ripple Effect Triple Bowl Set, $135, available at Macy's and Bloomingdale's

Nothing makes me feel fancier than having my friends over for dinner or just a plain ol' girls' night and being able to whip out my dip bowls. This is by no means a necessity (one could very easily just serve dips from the container they come in), but it just elevates any experience I host and brings me joy in a little but significant way. —Rachel Furst, associate product manager

A handheld steamer

Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam GS54 Garment Steamer, $59.99, available at Bed Bath & Beyond

I love this steamer, which my friend suggested we register for instead of an iron, and she was 100% correct. I find it so much faster than a standard iron and doesn't require space for an ironing board.

It's light and handheld so we can use it anywhere in our tiny apartment and even travel with it. It also has attachments for delicate fabrics, lint, and one that pulls the fabric taut for easier steaming. There's also a turbo mode for really wrinkly items. I've used it on T-shirts, dress shirts, delicate tops, bridesmaid dresses, and suits (there's even an attachment to create a crease). —Ashley Rodriguez, senior Future of TV reporter 

A way to quickly slice fruits and vegetables

OXO Good Grips V-Blade Mandoline Slicer, $39.95, available at Amazon

I got a mandoline slicer that I use way more than I ever thought I would. My favorite use for it is julienning zucchini for zucchini bread or making nice slices of things for easy salads. I have a healthy fear of slicing my fingers with it because of internet horror stories of mandolines but this really easy to use and I've never actually cut myself. It sits on the counter rather than one of the handheld ones. —Meg Teckman-Fullard, senior Business Insider Today producer 

Another Le Creuset essential

Le Creuset Signature Skillet, $120, available at Le Creuset, Amazon, and Sur La Table

A professional-grade blender

Vitamix 5200 Blender, $351.62, available at Amazon

We used to have a cheaper blender but the Vitamix is on another level. We use this for everything imaginable on a near daily basis: smoothies, custom spice and BBQ spice blends, frothing lattes, salad dressings, sorbets and more. It comes with various blades to allow both dry- and wet-ingredient blending, making it so versatile in the kitchen. —Erica Liu Williams, founder of gr8nola

A sleek dish rack

Simplehuman Kitchen Steel Frame Dish Rack, $79.99, available at Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond

This Simplehuman dish rack remains my favorite item that I received from my wedding registry. Super convenient in a small apartment, and something I never would have bought myself. —Ashley Rodriguez, senior Future of TV reporter 

A bag that holds your entire picnic

VonShef Outdoor Picnic Backpack Bag Set, $39.99, available at Amazon

We didn't register for a ton of things but we have been loving our picnic backpack and convertible breakfast tray so much! They're definitely nice-to-haves but make it easier for us to spend time outside and help make the gesture of bringing someone food in bed feel a little more romantic. The backpack is nice because it's easier to carry than a tote or a basket. —Starr Chen, software engineer 

A speedy kettle

Krups Savoy Manual Kettle, $59.99, available at Target and Williams Sonoma

I love having my electric hot water boiler. I find that it makes my mornings more manageable (literally fill it up, switch it on, and forget it until I'm actually ready for my coffee) and my evenings more relaxing (can brew a cup of tea in a minute!). This, for me, is a luxury that I feel helps me save time in my day without sacrificing the joy of hot beverages. —Rachel Furst, associate product manager

• Early retirees typically spend years saving aggressively so that they can give up their paycheck and live off their savings.
• Eight early retirees told Business Insider their money habits changed for the better after retiring early.
• Many lowered their living expenses and don't think about money the way they used to.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Early retirement involves culture shock.

Of course spending your days not reporting to anyone but yourself and doing whatever you like is exciting. But giving up a regular paycheck — no matter how much money you have saved up — can be scary at first.

Business Insider spoke with eight people who retired early about how their finances changed after they took the leap and left the workforce for good. Turns out, their financial lives generally improved after retiring early. Many early retirees ultimately lowered their cost of living and are far less concerned about money than they were while working.

Read more: 5 people explain how their life unexpectedly changed after retiring early

That's not to mention the many priceless opportunities early retirement has afforded them, like the ability to travel the world or become a stay-at-home parent.

Here's how retiring early has changed each of their relationships with money, for the better.

SEE ALSO: What 8 people wish they knew before retiring in their 20s and 30s

DON'T MISS: 6 people on how living in a tiny house has changed their finances, from going debt-free to saving six figures

For Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung, financial independence made traveling more affordable.

Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung, who retired at age 31 and run the website Millennial Revolution, spend less now traveling the world than they used to spend living in a major metropolitan city.

"That's because when you are no longer tied to a job, you don't have to live in an expensive city," Shen told Business Insider. "You can be anywhere."

They've been traveling the world for the past four years and living on $30,879 a year — less than their cost of living when they were living in Toronto, which was as much as $40,000 a year. They detailed how they did this in their book, "Quit Like a Millionaire."

"The trick is to balance expensive places like the UK, Iceland, Switzerland, and Denmark with inexpensive places like Thailand, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, and Eastern Europe," she said. "Once you do that, you control your retirement finances like a chess game that you always win."

Jeremy Jacobson and Winnie Tseng don't think about money anymore.

"The most significant way our finances have changed since retiring early is we don't really think about money anymore," Jeremy Jacobson told Business Insider. He and his partner, Winnie Tseng, retired in their 30s and run the blog GoCurryCracker!

"We have enough passive income for everything we want and need, which is incredibly liberating," he said. "Even without the 'retire early' life, being financially independent provides a tremendous amount of inner peace."

Jacobson's thought is a common theme among early retirees, who often say that early retirement isn't about how wealthy you are. The value of life during early retirement is priceless and doesn't depend on the dollar, they say — it's about time and lifestyle.

Joe Udo cut back on his biggest bill — childcare — by becoming a stay-at-home dad.

Joe Udo, of Retire by 40, retired from his engineering career at age 38 when his son was 18 months old. He told Business Insider that retiring early afforded him the ability to become a stay-at-home dad, and he and his wife no longer had to send their son to daycare.

"That was the biggest saving in our monthly budget," Udo said. "We used to pay $1,100 a month for childcare. That was in 2012, so I'm sure it costs a lot more now."

Since retiring early, Udo also spends much less on transportation, clothing, and entertainment — but childcare was their biggest bill, he said.

Sam Dogen gradually learned how to balance risk exposure.

Sam Dogen, of Financial Samurai, who retired at age 34 in 2012, said nothing changed for him during the first five years of early retirement.

"For the first year, I was a little worried I made the wrong move leaving behind a six-figure income so young," he said. "But because I negotiated a severance package, my lifestyle didn't change much. The severance package included a lump-sum severance check and five years' worth of deferred compensation that paid out every year until 2017."

He recommends that those retiring early try to negotiate a severance instead of simply quitting to create a financial cushion that will ease the transition to early retirement. According to Dogen, you could get a nice severance check, any deferred compensation owed, and eligibility for unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks.

"Once the severance payments stopped in 2017, I felt even more confident to completely live off investment income since the stock market and real estate market have performed so well since 2009," he said. "But I have dialed back risk exposure, to prepare for harder times ahead. The good times never last forever."

Tanja Hester doesn't check her account balances as much.

Tanja Hester and her husband, Mark, retired when they were 38 and 41. Hester, a blogger at Our Next Life and the author of "Work Optional: Retire Early the Non-Penny-Pinching Way," told Business Insider they think about money a lot less than they did while saving.

"When you are saving for a big goal, it's natural to track that progress closely. But since we left work and stopped focusing on saving, it really is amazing how little we check in on our account balances," she said. "We have the things we spend money on, and lots of things we don't, and as long as we don't go crazy, we know that we are in good shape.

"Of course, it helps that we have a very conservative early-retirement financial plan that doesn't require major market growth, and so even stock-market fluctuations don't bother us, because our plan assumes that stuff will happen."

Karsten Jeske reduced expenses by relocating to a lower cost of living area.

Karsten "Big Ern" Jeske, of Early Retirement Now, retired at 44. He told Business Insider that after retiring he and his family moved from San Francisco to Washington state to lower their living expenses and income-tax burden.

"Most of the reduction in expenses came from lower housing costs," he said. "We sold our condo in San Francisco and, net of the mortgage and fees, we still had enough money to buy a single-family house in Washington free and clear — no mortgage — and also have a six-figure sum to pad our investments."

He added: "Eliminating the mortgage, lowering property taxes, and cutting some other smaller spending categories, like work lunches and work clothes, we were able to cut our expenses by about 50%."

Jason Fieber took advantage of geographic arbitrage.

For Jason Fieber, of Mr. Free at 33, who retired in 2016 at 33, the biggest change after achieving financial independence and retiring early was psychological.

"I basically stopped worrying so much about money once I knew the expenses were covered," he told Business Insider. "It was like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders, where I no longer had to kind of obsess over my savings rate, investments, lifestyle, et cetera. Everything became much easier."

But that might have a lot to do with his move. In 2017, Fieber relocated to Thailand to take advantage of geographic arbitrage (or geo-arbitrage) — earning money in a strong economy (like the US) and spending it in a weaker economy (like Thailand). In addition to making his money (earned in US dollars, spent in Thai baht) stretch further, moving abroad substantially lowered Fieber's cost of living and allows him to "enjoy a wonderful culture."

"Things might be different had I stayed in the US, because the costs are so high there," he said.

Steve Adcock began spending less money on things and more money on experiences.

Steve Adcock, of Think Save Retire, and his wife retired in their 30s. Since then, they've become full-time travelers and spend less money on material goods and more on experiences, Adcock told Business Insider.

For starters, they travel in their 30-foot Airstream, which has decreased living expenses.

"There are zero commuting costs, which means we have much more control over our fuel consumption as well as expenses," Adcock said. "Though we travel (which requires diesel), we also aren't necessarily driving every single weekday either."

Since they no longer need work-related items like briefcases or nice clothes for the office, they've decreased their wardrobe budget by 75% and spend $10 to $15 a month on average on clothes-related items, according to Adcock.

"Some months we spend nothing," he said. "But we are spending on fun things as we travel around the country. For example, we attended the Packers' first football game in Lambeau Field, something we never would have been able to do if we weren't travelers.

"Most early retirees find that they don't spend as much money as they thought after retiring," he added. "It's because we no longer need things to distract us from full-time work. Once we no longer have those jobs, it's very common for spending to decrease rather than increase."

• Coconut water brand Vita Coco recently unveiled a new line of moderately sustainable aluminum-bottle-canned water called Ever & Ever.
• We tasted it and were pleasantly surprised.
• At $23.99 per case (12 16-ounce bottles), it's not cheap, but it will help you kick your single-use plastic water bottle habit.
• Keep an eye out for it in stores for $2 to $3 a bottle, which is a more practical purchase in a pinch.

Canned water might be familiar to military personnel, but apart from them and those all too familiar with emergency disaster preparedness and response, most of us haven't ever tried still water from an aluminum can. And for those who only reach for a single-use plastic water bottle in a desperate pinch, as of today, they will finally have another widely available option.

Tasting notes

In short, Ever & Ever's still water doesn't taste fantastic, but then it's not much different from Dasani or Nestlé. It is pH-balanced (7.4) and filtered by way of reverse osmosis, so there's a good chance it's better for you, however. And because reverse osmosis removes a lot of water's good qualities, Ever & Ever replaced some electrolytes: magnesium sulfate, calcium chloride, potassium bicarbonate, and potassium chloride.

Upon cracking the seal on the sparkling water, don't be alarmed if it's filled with big, bubbly energy. When I cracked the lid on this thing, I wasn't sure what I unleashed, but it was something akin to rolling boil, minus the heat. Minutes after opening it, with the cap only loosely hung on top, it still demonstrated signs of heavy-duty carbonation. That's right. Eat your heart out, La Croix. (There are, however, no flavors available as of yet, so you're safe, for now.)

Yes, the fizziness is impressive, but what's the catch? No, it is not, despite what you may be thinking, extortionately expensive. And no, it's not questionably sourced or treated water. It's just recycled aluminum that has lived a seemingly endless list of lives, with many more to come. "A pirate's hook in a local production of Treasure Island, soothing wind chimes, a custom spinning hubcap, and then another bottle-can," the bottle-can pontificates on possible future incarnations. And, again, it's not lying.

Aluminum facts

"Nearly 75% of all aluminum ever made is still in use today," the bottle reads, which is a direct quote from the Aluminum Association, a Washington, D.C.-based advocate for the industry, which you can take with a grain of salt. But while we struggle back and forth with recycling aluminum, there's probably enough value in the practice to hydrate from aluminum when and where need be.

Bottom line

Aluminum can be recycled as many times as it can be recovered, and as of yet, that's not something we can say about the plastics strewn about this lovely little planet. So, maybe the next time you need water and you're about to grab a single-use plastic bottle, keep an eye out for Ever & Ever. They also make extremely lightweight, reusable bottles, and I've been toting around an empty one with me to lighten my load in my briefcase.

All this said, the bottle-can still contains a little bit of plastic in the lid to secure it for health safety reasons, which we'll let slide for now.

The unavoidable fact is that this stuff is expensive, particularly by the case. We're hoping that Ever & Ever becomes widely available enough that it will be available for about $2 to $3 (as a brand representative told me) in gas stations and airports so that, when you're caught in need of water without a reusable bottle, you'll have a largely plastic-free option available at a comparable price to plastic-bottled water. In the meantime, the 12-pack cases of 16-ounce bottles are available on Amazon, but keep an eye out for it on the shelves.

Watch Ever & Ever's "Plastic Service Announcement" in conjunction with Lonely Whalehere.

Pros: Plastic-free and affordable, reusable, sparkling water is extremely well carbonated

Cons: Expensive (twice the price of Essentia by the ounce when buying a 12-pack case), not widely available yet to grab at the gas station or airport

Buy Ever & Ever Still or Sparkling Water on Amazon for $23.99 per case (12-pack) of 16-ounce bottle-cans

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• It's possible to turn off or limit ad tracking on your iPhone, if you're concerned about security. 
• Ad tracking allows your iPhone to serve you targeted advertisements in your downloaded apps, based on your browsing habits. 
• You can limit ad tracking off, or turn off the feature, through your iPhone's Privacy menus. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

There's no way around it — advertising is everywhere, from billboards and our TVs to all the apps we have downloaded to our phones. 

While this isn't inherently a bad thing, current technology has brought up questions about personal security, and the tactics companies are using to target ads to users based on things they've searched for, read about, or the places they've been. 

The iPhone's ad tracking feature is another example of this form of aggressive advertising, and it's all down to Apple's Search Ads platform. These are banners or even full-page pop-ups on your iPhone or iPad that are served specifically to you, based on everything you do on your device. 

Thankfully, it's easy to limit ad tracking, or disable it altogether, in a few simple steps. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

How to turn off location-based ads on iPhone

If you're not cool with Apple tracking where you are, and serving you ads based on that information, here's how to ensure the company can't. 

1. On your iPhone's home screen, locate and tap on the Settings icon to open it. 

2. Scroll down until you find the Privacy option and tap to open, then tap Location Services. 

3. In the Location Settings menu, scroll to the bottom of your screen and look for the System Services menu and tap to open. 

4. Next to Location Based Apple Ads (also called iAds on some older phones), toggle the button to ensure that the button is grayed out. If it's green, this means that option is enabled; graying it out prohibits Apple from being able to serve these kinds of ads to your device. 

How to enable or turn off Limit Ad Tracking on an iPhone

While enabling Limit Ad Tracking on your iPhone won't prohibit Apple from gathering info from your browsing habits, it will mean that companies can't serve you specific ads based on this information. 

1. Open the Settings icon on your iPhone's home screen, then tap Privacy. 

2. Locate the Advertising option located at the bottom of the page, then look for the Limit Ad Tracking option. 

3. Toggle the Limit Ad Tracking option off by tapping to turn the bar green. This will mean the feature is enabled.

It should be noted that you can always re-enable ad tracking by following the steps above, but toggling the relevant options on by tapping them to turn them green (in the case of location-based tracking) and gray (for Limit Ad Tracking). 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to stop your iPhone from tracking your location, and manage each app's location-tracking

• How to turn off the Find My iPhone feature on your iPhone

• How to block a phone number on your iPhone

• How to record the screen on your iPhone

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

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• You may not have Facebook Marketplace for a number of reasons – if, for example, it isn't available in your region, you don't meet the age requirements, or you recently joined Facebook. 
• Facebook Marketplace is a feature on the social media site used to trade, buy, or sell items like furniture, electronics, and vehicles with locals in your region. 
• If you don't have Facebook Marketplace, there are a number of ways you can try to gain access to it. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Facebook Marketplace, a free feature provided by the social media site, is where users can list, sell, buy, and trade items with locals in their region.

Marketplace offers users all kinds of things, whether it's furniture for your home, a car for your driveway, or an actual piece of property on the market to purchase. Plus, using it is a breeze.

But not every Facebook user has access to Marketplace, which can be frustrating and lead one to wonder why they are missing out on the latest consumer trend. 

Why you may not have access to Facebook Marketplace

If you don't have Marketplace, there may be a number of reasons why it isn't showing up on your Facebook. 

You're not in a region where Marketplace is available 

Currently, Marketplace is available to Facebook users in more than 70 countries — but it's possible your region still doesn't have access. 

If your Facebook profile region is set to a country where Marketplace is not available yet, you will not see the Marketplace icon (looks like a shopfront) on the iOS app, or the Marketplace bookmark on the left-hand menu on desktop. 

To find a list of countries where Marketplace is available, visit Facebook's Marketplace directory. 

You're not at least 18 years old

Marketplace is only available to Facebook users who are 18 years and older. 

You're new to Facebook 

New users typically are not given access to Facebook Marketplace right away. 

This is because Facebook wants to cut down on potential scammers, who frequently delete and recreate profiles to sell fabricated items after they've been banned. 

You don't use Marketplace enough for the icon to appear 

Facebook uses algorithms for its menus, meaning the groups, pages, or apps you use within the site generally appear higher up on the left-hand menu bar on desktop and on the menu accessed by tapping the three horizontal lines at the bottom right of the iOS app. 

If you use Marketplace infrequently, chances are it may have been replaced with another feature you use more often, and you won't see it directly on the menu.  

You may have listed something that goes against Facebook's policy 

To see if you may have listed something that went against Facebook Marketplace's community policy, review Facebook's policies. Then go to Marketplace > Request Review.  

How to access Facebook Marketplace if you don't have it

However, there are a few ways to try and access Marketplace if it isn't showing up.

If you can't see the Marketplace icon in your home menu 

If you're 18 years or older, and living in a region where Marketplace is available, you can go directly to it by typing https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/ into your browser. 

Visit Marketplace frequently enough, and it will begin to appear in the shortcut menu on your desktop and iOS device. 

Try logging out or reinstalling the Facebook app 

If you fit all the requirements needed for Marketplace but still cannot access it, try logging out of Facebook, or uninstalling and reinstalling the app. 

If your account is new, use it often 

If you are new to Facebook and don't yet have access to Marketplace, make sure to be as active on the social media site as you can. This means commenting on posts, sharing photos, adding friends, and more.  

Change your region 

If you are in a region where Marketplace is not supported, or you've recently moved, set your Facebook profile region to a country that is by going to Settings > Language and Region. 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to create a poll on Facebook on a desktop or mobile device, to gather data, make plans, or settle a friendly debate

• How to list and sell items on Facebook Marketplace, Facebook's version of Craigslist

• How to see who is following your Facebook profile or page

• How to advertise for your business on Facebook

SEE ALSO: The best laptops you can buy

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